Spring Game Last Call for NU Time Capsules

As part of Nebraska football’s final 50 Years of Consecutive Sellouts celebration, Saturday’s Red-White Spring Game will be the last call for Husker fans to participate in a special project – filling 200 scarlet-and-cream time capsules with meaningful memories, mementos and memorabilia that define Nebraska’s half-century journey of 325 consecutive sellout crowds inside Memorial Stadium.

“We believe collecting mementos from Husker fans to commemorate the last 50 years of consecutive sellouts is a fun way to connect our current fans with future generations,” said Ethan Rowley, Nebraska’s director of athletic marketing. “It’s almost as if we’re leaving a present for the next generation to celebrate.”

Later this spring, Nebraska Athletics will bury the 200 time capsules in vaults under the newly expanded East Stadium section of Memorial Stadium at the historical Gate 20 entrance – the original welcome mat for most Husker fans in 1923, the year construction was completed.

The time capsules will be opened in 2062 when Nebraska plans to celebrate 100 years of consecutive sellouts. Each capsule is a 16-inch long pressure-sealed canister with a 4-inch opening to commemorate the expansion that will be completed this fall.

Saturday is last call for Husker fans to submit personal photos of favorite game day memories. Some fans have saved ticket stubs from their first Husker home game or their favorite home game during the streak. Some have brought clothing to reflect how formal people dressed in the early days of the sellout streak. Some are donating a game program, a magazine or a book from the past 50 years. Some even have written letters to fans and family members who will open the canisters in 2062. Nebraska’s goal is for fans to have fun and to be a part of history.

The effort helps kids participate in the 50 Years of Consecutive Sellouts celebration using an activity sheet that can be downloaded hereon Huskers.com. “This is a good way for parents and grandparents to help kids and grandkids get involved in history,” Rowley said. “We’re encouraging fans to be creative and to send anything that displays their Husker passion and traditions over the last 50 years.”

Anything that cannot be mailed or fit into the 16x4 capsule will not be considered. The time capsules and vaults will be on display at Husker Nation Pavilion directly northeast of the stadium from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Fans are invited to stop by and drop off items for the time capsules, and to use the opportunity to get their pictures taken with the time capsule in the background.

Fans who will not attend the Spring Game can mail submissions to UNL Athletics, Attention Marketing – Time Capsule; One Memorial Stadium; Lincoln, NE 68588-0153. To qualify for consideration, all items must be sent by Friday, April 12.